Pentraxin-3 levels in gingival crevicular fluid during orthodontic tooth movement in young and adult patients

Abstract Objectives: To measure the levels of pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) in orthodontic young and adult patients in the first 2?weeks after the orthodontic appliance to determine whether those changes occur during orthodontic treatment and if those values could be the expression of an inflammatory state. Materials and Methods: GCF samples were collected with paper strips from 16 orthodontic young patients and 13 orthodontic adult patients from an upper canine requiring distalization as a test tooth. A contralateral canine was used as a control tooth. The absorbed volume was eluted in 100?μL phosphate-buffered saline (pH = 7.2). PTX-3 levels in GCF were determined using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit, and the results were expressed in ng/mL. Results: The results showed an increase of GCF levels of PTX-3 from 1?hour before the orthodontic appliance to a maximum at 24?hours, followed by a decrease in both groups of adult and young patients. Conclusions: The results suggest PTX-3 involvement in periodontal orthodontic remodeling and the aseptic inflammation induced by the orthodontic forces.     

A study of antioxidant activity in patients with schizophrenia taking atypical antipsychotics

Introduction

Atypical antipsychotics have significantly improved the quality of life for schizophrenic patients. Despite their beneficial effects, these antipsychotics induce weight gain, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. The aims of this study were to investigate the antioxidative activity of paraoxonase and assess lipid profile as a cardiovascular risk factor in patients with schizophrenia under long-term clozapine or risperidone treatment.

Methods

The study included 66 patients with schizophrenia under clozapine or risperidone treatment and 19 healthy control subjects. Serum paraoxonase activities against paraoxon (PON(PO)), phenylacetate (PON(PA)), dihydrocoumarin (PON(DHC)), serum Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC), antioxidant gap (GAP), and lipid profile were determined.

Results

PON(DHC) activity was reduced in both antipsychotic drug-treated groups (clozapine 43.46?±?1.06 U/ml, p?p?Conclusions In patients with schizophrenia, clozapine or risperidone treatment had different effects on various paraoxonase activities. The results of the present study suggest that patients with schizophrenia might be at increased risk for metabolic and cardiovascular disease related to reduced PON(DHC), TEAC, and GAP.     

External biliary fistulas selectively managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with sphincterotomy and/or stent placement

External bile duct fistulas are inherent postoperative complications that usually appear after biliary tract surgery, traumatic bile duct injuries and liver surgery for hepatic hydatid disease or liver transplant. The management is highly individualized, while the success and long-term results of endoscopic and surgical techniques are conflicting. The study included 32 cases with external bile duct fistulas managed by endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (ERC) with sphincterotomy and/or stent placement, including "rendez-vous" procedures in 2 cases. The causes of the external fistula were represented by cholecystectomy with/without retained common bile duct stones or strictures (22 cases), cholecystectomy and drainage of a subphrenic abscess caused by severe acute pancreatitis (1 case) and surgical interventions for hepatic hydatid disease (9 cases). Due to the prospective protocol of the study we were able to apply an individualized endoscopic treatment: sphincterotomy with proper relief of the bile duct obstruction (stone extraction) or sphincterotomy with large-size (10 Fr) stent placement for large-sized bile duct defects. The results consisted in closure of the fistula in 3.5 +/- 1.7 days for the subgroup of patients with sphincterotomy alone. Among the patients with stent insertion, fistulas healed slower in 14 +/- 3.5 days. There were no complications after endoscopic treatment; however the stent could not be passed in one patient that required subsequent surgery. In conclusion, endoscopic intervention is the treatment of choice for small external biliary fistulas complicating biliary tract surgery or liver surgery for hepatic hydatid disease. When the fistula is large, the placement of a 10 Fr endoprosthesis becomes necessary, while failure of endoscopic treatment leads to surgery with hepatico-jejunal anastomosis.     

Gastroduodenal artery aneurysm broken in duodenum. A rare cause of upper digestive tract hemorrhage

The authors present a case of recidivated upper digestive tract hemorrhage, in which the bleeding initially stopped under conservative treatment. Imagery showed a piloro-duodenal stenosis. During the preoperative care the hemorrhage is resumed abruptly imposing emergency operation. The lesion was an intraoperative surprise imposing the hemostasis at first, and then the surgical management of lesions of the digestive tract.     

Postoperative intestinal fistulae

58 (6.25%) intestinal fistulae raised after 928 operations performed for varied surgical small bowel diseases were studied. The primary operation was performed for bowel obstruction, acute peritonitis, small bowel tumours, postoperative eviscerations and for entro-mesenteric infarction. We also noticed that the surgery was performed for the small bowel diseases in 47 (81%) acses and for the diseases belonging to other abdominal viscera in the rest, having an emergency character in 81% of cases. The small bowel fistulae were single (51 cases) or multiple having the following topographic distribution: jejunal fistulae in 25 (43.4%) cases and ileal fistulae in 33 cases (56.6). The coming out of the fistulae was directly in 41 (70%) cases and trough an intermediate route in 17 (30%) cases. The onset of the fistulae was certainly pointed by the coming out moment, early only in 39.6% of cases. This underlining the importance of an active exploration of the operative wound, imposed by the general and/or local premonitory symptoms. The treatment was complex, using conservative and/or surgical procedures; 23 (39.6%) patients were operated on. The mortality rate was of 29.4%. The parenteral nutrition and the therapeutical option for the conservative methods were the main therapeutical acquisitions, which improved the results and the prognosis of the intestinal fistulae.     

A particular case of a "captive forceps" in the esophagus

We present a particular case of a "captive" forceps in the esophagus in an attempt to remove a foreign body in a patient with previous esophageal post-caustic stenosis. The mechanism of incarceration and the surgical therapeutic option consisting of open thoracic surgery are detailed and argumented. Postoperative course was favorable, though the patient developed a small esophageal fistula visible at radiology without any clinical expression. This case emphasizes the difficulties that may occur but in the management of esophageal foreign bodies in patients with esophageal post-caustic stenosis, which may lead finally to open surgery.     

Immobilization of alpha-[di-(beta-chloroethyl)-amide]-N-(m-nitrobenzoyl)-D,L-asparagic acid on xanthan

The paper studies the coupling reaction, through ester-type covalent bonds, of an oxazolone derived from the N-(m-nitrobenzoyl)-L-asparagic acid, the cycle of which is opened with an N-mustard derivative, on xanthan (a polysaccharide of microbian synthesis), in conditions of activation with dicyclohexyl carbodiimide. The coupling product has been characterized through elemental analysis and IR spectroscopy. For the establishment of the capacity of the active principle's controlled release by the polymer-active principle system thus obtained, active principle's release kinetics from the polysaccharide support, in conditions of basic hydrolysis, is studied. In vivo tests realized on mice proved the antitumoral activity of the compounds resulted by chemical bonding of the N-mustard derivative on xanthan.     

Retroperitoneal Castleman's disease

We present 2 cases of retroperitoneal localisation of Castleman's disease--hyalino-vascular histologic type. A 65 years old woman and a 67 years old man were admitted with the diagnosis of retroperitoneal tumour. The clinical findings were not specific. Surgical removal of the tumour is the treatment of choice. Focal recurrences didn't occur.